The Dalai Lama urged religious leaders Saturday to reach out to Muslims, saying Islam is a compassionate faith that has been unfairly maligned because of a few extremists.“Nowadays to some people the Muslim tradition appears more militant,” the 70-year-old exiled monk said at a weekend conference, which aimed to bring Muslims and Buddhists together.“I feel that’s totally wrong. Muslims, like any other traditions — same message, same practice. That is a practice of compassion,” he said. Event organizers say the Dalai Lama interrupted his schedule to fly to San Francisco and meet Islamic scholars and leaders from other faiths to discuss reducing violence and extremism.Security was tight at the invitation-only event, which drew about 500 religious leaders and scholars. The conference included speakers and presenters from numerous faiths and roughly 30 countries... http://www.msnbc.msn.com

It would seem, to Middle Eastern eyes scanning the latest headlines online yesterday, yet further evidence of secret plans for the conflict that everyone is now dreading. Britain, it was suggested, had taken part in an American war game that simulated an invasion of Iran, in an apparent mockery of both countries' insistence that they want a diplomatic - not a military - solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis. But in the overheated atmosphere of current debate over Iran, nothing is quite what it seems. The simulated battle, fought in 2004 and codenamed Hotspur, was in fact one of a series of 'paper exercises' that have been conducted every few weeks by senior military planners on both sides of the Atlantic since the Sixties to test strategic readiness. Each time, a different country is invaded. ...http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1754789,00.html

A 7-year-old boy hiking with his family was attacked Saturday by a mountain lion, officials said. The cat was later killed by a wildlife officer.The mountain lion bit the boy's head or jaw, and the child also suffered puncture wounds or scrapes on his legs, likely from the animal's claws, Division of Wildlife spokesman Tyler Baskfield said.The boy, whose name was not released, was apparently the last in a single-file line of seven other people taking a short hike at a scenic area of Flagstaff Mountain, Baskfield said."The father turned and saw the cat had a hold of the young boy," he said. The group began screaming at the cat and throwing rocks and was able to free the boy, he said....http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/04/16/mt.lion.attack.ap/index.html?section=cnn_us

Iran has formed battalions of suicide bombers to strike at British and American targets if the nation’s nuclear sites are attacked. According to Iranian officials, 40,000 trained suicide bombers are ready for action. The main force, named the Special Unit of Martyr Seekers in the Revolutionary Guards, was first seen last month when members marched in a military parade, dressed in olive-green uniforms with explosive packs around their waists and detonators held high.Dr. Hassan Abbasi, head of the Centre for Doctrinal Strategic Studies in the Revolutionary Guards, said in a speech that 29 Western targets had been identified: “We are ready to attack American and British sensitive points if they attack Iran’s nuclear facilities.” He added that some of them were “quite close” to the Iranian border in Iraq....http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191910,00.html

The body of a 10-year-old girl was found in a plastic tub in her neighbor's closet, and police said her death was part of his elaborate plan to eat human flesh.Jamie Rose Bolin had deep saw marks on her neck and was apparently hit several times with a wooden cutting board, Purcell police Chief David Tompkins said. Agents removed meat tenderizer and barbecue skewers from his apartment, one floor down from where the girl lived with her father."Regarding a potential motive," Tompkins said, "this appears to have been part of a plan to kidnap a person, rape them, torture them, kill them, cut off their head, drain the body of blood, rape the corpse, eat the corpse, then dispose of the organs and bones."Kevin Ray Underwood, 26, was arrested Friday after investigators found Jamie's body in the closet of a bedroom in his apartment, authorities said. The girl's unclothed body was inside a large plastic tub, along with a towel used to soak up blood, officials said....http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-04-16-oklahoma-girl_x.htm

Russia said yesterday it had promised emergency aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, breaking with the European Union and the United States, which have stopped funding to try to force Hamas to recognize Israel. The Foreign Ministry said the offer came in a telephone conversation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Russia's offer was announced as dozens of Palestinian security men stormed a government building and blocked roads in the Gaza Strip demanding the Hamas-led administration pay overdue salaries. "Salaries, or go home," the protesters chanted in the central town of Khan Younis, directing their message at Hamas in the biggest such demonstration since the Islamic militant group assumed power last month following its January election victory. ...http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20060415-115523-8117r.htm